Improvement in cartridge-boxes



UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sAMUEL McxEEvEE, or UNITED sTATEs ARMY, sTATIoNED AT MOBILE,

- ALABAMA. y i

IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE-BOXES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,846, dated June 10, 1873 applicationled May 17,1873.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL McKEEvER, of the United States Army, stationed at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cartridge-Boxes; and I do hereby' declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, iu which- Figure lA is a vertical cross-section showing the box open. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box when closed. 4

This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of the parts which constitute a soldiers cartridge-box.

It consists in making the box in two parts, that are pivoted together at the bottom so as to turn down and allow an important addition to the number of cartridges usually carried. It also consists in providing the movable part with a rigid cover, and in making slots where this part turns on the pivots of the other, so that it may be raised and lowered to bring the cover in place, and to admit of dispensing with the ordinary flap-cover. It also consists in a novel mode of securing the pockets to the inside of the box, so that the cartridges can be placed in a convenient position for rapid removal by the soldier.

In the drawing, B B represent a cartridgebox made in two distinct and separate parts, connected by the slots b1 b1 on the one, and the broadheaded bolts or rivets b b on the other. These slots not only allow the part B to turn upon the part B as a hinge-joint,

but also allow the former to be lowered on the latter, so as to hold them fast together, or to be raised to admit of the former being turned on the pivot-bolts b b. Over the free end `of the part B the leather is brought in a suitable curve,.b2, to form a cover, which will fasten over the part B, and effectually shield the cart-ridges from the weather.

By this construction I avoid the leather ila-pcover, which is always in the way when the soldier is drawing out successive cartridges, and requires to be held up behind him by one hand when he is under inspection. By making the two parts independent, I also secure a convenient space for more than 50 per cent.

additional cartridges, the usual number being twenty-four, while mine contains yforty.`

Gis a exible strap, which may be used to pass on the outside across thef opening between two parts, B B', at bottom, and to fasten on a button, C', for thepurpose of hold-A ing the parts more compactly together. D D

are the loops through which pass the usual strap-buckles about `the soldier. E E E E` are four rows of pockets placed one above another, closed at the bottom, andeach of l the rows attached to the body of the cartridge-box by a mpliable fabric, F.

By closing the pocket at the bottom, Iprevent the cartridge from slipping down until its flange 1 rests on the upper end of a pocket, a position which renders itdifficult to be fingered by the soldier when he wishes to remove it. By

my mode of attaching the pockets the soldier, when about to begin the removal of l cartridges, pulls a whole row `laterally outward. This places the row in an oblique position, each cartridge leaning-in a direction from the soldiers body, and `thus enabling him to take a direct hold with his fingers, and without any fumbling or unnecessary delay.

b3 b3 are flat edges that serve to support the upper row of cartridges in part B, when the box is closed, and to prevent them from slipping out.

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters upon the pivot-bolts b b, as described, to allow the 4ordinary nap-cover to be dispensed with.

s. The pockets E attached by a pliable1 fabric, F, to thebody of cartridge-box, as set forth, to allow the cartridgesto be turned with their heads outward, and into an oblique position where they may be conveniently seized .y 3p

by the soldier.

SAMUEL MCKEEVER. Witnesses:

J. H. WALLACE. E. H. GEANDA. 

